*Gynecologic-Oncology Department and †Biomedical and Physics Engineering Service, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Notre-Dame Hospital, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2000 Jan;4(1):21-5. doi: 10.1046/j.1526-0976.2000.41004.x.
The purpose of this study was to record room air concentrations of nitrous oxide during sessions of cryotherapy and to compare them with available norms. Complementary objectives were to determine the knowledge of Canadian colposcopists and to evaluate the need for education regarding nitrous oxide toxicities.
Air concentrations of nitrous oxide during cryotherapy sessions were measured with an infrared gas analyzer. A survey was sent to colposcopists throughout Canada to evaluate their knowledge of toxicities of nitrous oxide.
The mean air concentrations of nitrous oxide measured were 169, 91, 99, and 103 ppm, respectively. Adding a tube to the cryotherapy scavenging outlet to dispose of the gas diminished the concentration to 17 ppm. The survey showed that 74% of the gynecologists surveyed use nitrous oxide as a refrigerant and only 18% know about the toxicities of nitrous oxide.
Without a device to dispose of nitrous oxide securely during cryotherapy, the air concentration exceeds safe levels. Education of clinicians on the toxicities of nitrous oxide should be a goal in the future.
本研究旨在记录冷冻治疗过程中的室内空气氧化亚氮浓度，并将其与可用标准进行比较。补充目标是确定加拿大阴道镜医师的知识水平，并评估有关氧化亚氮毒性的教育需求。
使用红外气体分析仪测量冷冻治疗过程中氧化亚氮的空气浓度。向加拿大各地的阴道镜医师发送了一份调查，以评估他们对氧化亚氮毒性的了解。
测量的氧化亚氮平均空气浓度分别为 169、91、99 和 103ppm。在冷冻治疗废气出口处添加一根管子以处理废气，可将浓度降低至 17ppm。调查显示，74%接受调查的妇科医生使用氧化亚氮作为制冷剂，只有 18%知道氧化亚氮的毒性。
如果在冷冻治疗过程中没有安全处理氧化亚氮的设备，空气中的浓度就会超过安全水平。未来应将有关氧化亚氮毒性的临床医生教育作为一个目标。
